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Page 1 2013 Summer Issue ● Village Ambulance Service ● (413) 458-4889
Employee Spotlight
Kevin O’Mara EMT-Paramedic/CQI Officer
Kevin, a ‘fifth generation’ born and
raised in Williamstown, was first bitten by
the public service bug after becoming
certified in CPR in 1992. He went on to
become First Responder certified in 1998
as a new member of Williamstown Fire
Department before earning a Bachelor’s
degree in Communications with a minor
in Business Marketing and Management.
In order to pursue his love of rock
climbing, biking (mountain and road),
hiking, camping, and touring the pacific
northwest, he decided to move to
Colorado where he lived for two years.
Upon his return to the Berkshires in 2004,
Kevin found EMS employment working for
Bennington Rescue Squad, Southwestern
Vermont Medical Center, Windsor Fire
Department, Southern Vermont
Ambulance Service, and Rutland
Ambulance Service.
In 2008, Kevin enrolled in the Paramedic
program at Greenfield Community
College. He became certified in 2010
and joined Village Ambulance and
North Adams Ambulance within a few
months of receiving his certification.
During his public service career Kevin
has held positions including Field
Supervisor, Quality Improvement Officer,
Field Training Officer, EMT Basic
Instructor and Certification Examiner. For
the Williamstown Fire Department:
Firefighter, Apparatus Driver, Pump
Operator, Training Instructor, and
Search and Rescue Coordinator for the
Williamstown Forestry Department.
Thanks for the dedication to EMS, Kevin!
Village Ambulance Service Summer 2013 Newsletter
Welcome to the summer 2013 edition of the Village Ambulance Service
EMS & Community Awareness Newsletter. This publication is aimed at
keeping you updated on the progress of Emergency Medical Services in
Berkshire County.
Let the Sun Shine!
New Operations Manager Hired
Michelle Sawicky, EMT-P, I/C, has
been promoted to Operations
Manager for Village Ambulance
Service.
Michelle has been with the company
since late 2008 and during her five
year tenure has held the positions of
EMT-Intermediate, Paramedic, Shift
Supervisor, Lead Child Passenger
Safety Technician, VAS EMS Explorer
Post 911 Advisor, CPR Instructor, and
Instructor/Coordinator of numerous
VAS training and education programs.
In addition to her lengthy resume,
Michelle was selected for the position
because of her global understanding
of the company's organizational
structure and operations, and is
dedicated and committed to the
company's long-term success.
Michelle earned her EMT-Basic
certification from Westfield State
College in 2005 before becoming
certified as a Paramedic in 2012.
To contact Michelle, please call
413-458-4889 or e-mail her at
msawicky@villageambulance.com
Summer Fun Fact
Even though the first day of summer is
the longest day of the year, it’s not the
hottest. This is due to something called
seasonal temperature lag, which
means that it takes a while for the
oceans to let their stored summer
solstice heat back into the air. That’s
why it tends to be hotter in July or
August than in June. Please keep this is
mind when planning outdoor activities.
Follow VAS:
Page 2 2013 Summer Issue ● Village Ambulance Service ● (413) 458-4889
Barbecue Safety
Barbecue season is upon us. This means many people will be enjoying cooking and eating food that was prepared in
this manner. It also means people will be injured and thousands of dollars of property damage will result because of
carelessness. Even people who use combustible products safely at the worksite will make mistakes and ignore safety
practices once they are at home. Many fire fighters and paramedics have responded to barbecue fires and related
injuries that could have been prevented. The following are a few tips we should keep in mind to help us have a safe
barbecue season:
1. After purchasing a barbecue, make sure you follow the manufacturer's directions for assembly and use.
2. Don't use your barbecue indoors. Fire and carbon monoxide poisoning are a real threat. Keep the barbecue a safe
distance (over 3 meters, or 10 feet) from your house. If there is a fire, you don't want it to spread to your house.
3. Keep your barbecue's propane tank in an upright position. If it's not in an upright position, the tanks relief valve may
not work properly. Also make sure the burner ports are clear of rust and dirt.
4. Check for leaks by putting a soapy solution on the connection of the tank and hoses. Where you see bubbles,
tighten the connection. If you can't stop the bubbles, don't use the barbecue - it's leaking propane. Never use a
match to check for leaks.
5. When lighting a gas barbecue, keep the lid open to avoid gas buildup and light the barbecue as soon as you turn
on the gas. Keep your face away from the grill. Make sure the flame is visible from the burner ports.
6. A barbecue lighter with a long handle is safer to use than matches. It provides the extra reach that reduces the
chance of singed hair or a burn to your body.
7. Make sure coals are cool before you dispose of them.
8. Avoid wearing baggy sleeves when cooking over a barbecue. They could catch fire.
9. Remember, the entire barbecue assembly is hot. Keep children away.
COMMUNITY
First Aid Ready
If a summer filled with fun activities is your goal – packing a first-aid kit to address the
inevitable bumps, bites, abrasions and blisters – will keep you on track.
Village Ambulance Service recommends keeping first-aid essentials within arm’s reach.
Use a small, water-proof bag that’s easy to stash in the glove compartment, suitcase,
backpack or golf bag. And what should you put on the essential list?
Hand cleaner
2 pairs of exam gloves
Several sizes of adhesive bandages
Medical tape
Gauze wrap
Several 4-inch gauze squares
Scissors
Tweezers
Small flashlight, with batteries
Instant cold packs
Be sure to store your kit in a place that is out of children’s reach but easily accessible for adults. In addition, put a
note on your calendar to check the kit regularly to make sure it’s fully stocked and batteries still work.
Lastly, if you’re flying be sure to pack the first-aid kit in your checked luggage. Many of the items won’t be permitted
in your carry-on bags.
Page 3 2013 Summer Issue ● Village Ambulance Service ● (413) 458-4889
Senate Passes EMS Week Resolution
With an overwhelming show of support and co-signers, the 188th Massachusetts State Senate passed the below
resolution on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013. Leading the bipartisan resolution were Senators K. Donnelly (Arlington)
and J. Kennan (Norfolk & Plymouth). Senator Donnelly requested that members of the Massachusetts Department
of Public Health - Office of Emergency Medical Services be present to accept the resolution on behalf of the
Commonwealth’s EMS community. Great work everyone!
EMS ADVANCEMENTS
Page 4 2013 Summer Issue ● Village Ambulance Service ● (413) 458-4889
TRAINING & CERTIFICATION
Massachusetts EMTs and National EMS Certification
www.mass.gov/dph/oems
Effective July 1, 2013, all new Massachusetts Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) candidates, at all levels will be required to participate in the NREMT certification process for both psychomotor and cognitive skills evaluation.
NREMT Registration
There will be four identified tracks, which Massachusetts EMTs can choose to follow once Massachusetts recognizes this certification standard.
1. All new EMT candidates requesting initial licensure after July 1, 2013 will be required to enter the NREMT Registry and maintain NREMT certification throughout their career as part of their Mass licensure.
2. All existing Mass licensed EMTs who have current NREMT certification will be required to maintain their Registry certification as part of their Mass licensure.
3. All EMS providers who were formerly registered by the NREMT, but have not maintained their NREMT certification will be able to have their certification reinstated, if currently licensed by Mass OEMS without restrictions. Those who have already successfully tested into the registry will not be required to test again.
4. EMTs that have never registered with the NREMT will be able to maintain their Mass licensure, without NREMT certification, provided that they meet or exceed NREMT recertification training requirements and fulfill continuing education credits.
For more information on the new Mass OEMS & National Registry changes, please visit:
www.villageambulance.com
National EMS Education Standards a Big Step Forward By Mike Touchstone EMS1.com
What are the National EMS Education Standards?
“(The Standards) define the competencies, clinical behaviors, and judgments that must be met by entry-level EMS personnel to meet practice guidelines defined in the National EMS Scope of Practice Model." (NHTSA p. 7)
There are four certification levels: emergency medical responder (EMR), emergency medical technician (EMT), advanced EMT (AEMT), and paramedic. The Standards are built upon the premise that each certification level is part of a sequence that culminates in paramedic certification. Each certification level is built upon the knowledge, skills and competencies of the lower levels. Thus, an EMT must meet all of the competencies of an EMR, as well as those specific to the EMT. Likewise, a paramedic must meet all of the competencies of an EMR, EMT, AEMT, as well as those specified for entry-level paramedics.
The Standards are made up of four components: competencies, knowledge required to achieve the competencies, clinical behaviors/judgments, and educational infrastructure. They provide a general framework to support individual programs for developing specific curricula to meet identified training and educational needs in particular regions. The format also allows for ongoing revision when research supports practice changes based on scientific evidence or when standards of care change. The NHTSA also published instructor guides for each certification level. These include the basic information that programs must deliver in order for their students to meet the described competencies. The guides will serve as the foundations for textbooks and lesson plans. It is important to note that programs will need more than just the instructor guides to deliver a complete program.
Why Are the Standards Important?
The most important aspect of the Standards is the fact that they move EMS, paramedics in particular, one step further along the road to professionalization. The EMS Education Agenda process in general and the Standards in particular are together raising the bar for EMS practitioners. Just as practitioners progress from level to level, so does the discipline progress from a training to an educational perspective. As a consequence of this, many of the individuals who teach EMS will have to become more than simply certified instructors; they will have to become educators.
EMS educators will need to possess a foundation in educational methodology; adult learning theory; curriculum and lesson plan design and development; as well as evaluation, assessment, analysis and communication skills. Our EMS educators must be well-prepared for the transition; education is more than simply training. This change in perspective will make our practitioners better at what they do, and ultimately, will lead to better patient care.
What Will the Standards Mean to Us?
At first glance, it may appear the Standards will have little impact on current practitioners. The Standards solidify the four certification levels so that each level will have a common set of minimum, entry-level competencies across the country. It means that those who learned initial assessment and the four different pathways of secondary assessment may not recognize the concept of "primary and secondary" assessments. For the old school folks like me, it means a return to familiar terminology.
For those who hope to become paramedics, it means that you will need to know more information at a greater depth and breadth. Paramedic programs may include such course work as ethics, special operations, incident management, leadership, as well as more in-depth pathophysiology cardiology and pharmacology. Practitioners will learn much more about the "why" we do what we do.
As a result of more formal education, I predict that paramedics will eventually be recognized as a more independent practitioner, rather than one who simply collects data, reports the findings, and follows a physician’s orders. Practitioners will then be better prepared to practice in the field.
The biggest impact the Standards will have on current and future paramedics is that many will receive college credits and Associate’s Degrees in the process of achieving paramedic certification (some will even attain Bachelor's Degrees). This increased standard level of education will make it more challenging for the "dinosaurs" to keep up with the "young Turks."
Page 5 2013 Summer Issue ● Village Ambulance Service ● (413) 458-4889
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